«Cumberland–KAFU History and Culture Exchange Program»: Review
In May 2026, as part of the Cumberland–KAFU History and Culture Exchange Program, international internship participants at the Kazakh-American Free University participated in a rich cultural and educational program dedicated to the history, traditions, and contemporary development of East Kazakhstan.
The program officially kicked off with a meeting on May 13 at KAFU with professors Sean McDaniel, professor of history, and Sarah Hayes, professor of English, from Cumberland University (Tennessee, USA). The meeting was attended by KAFU President Yerezhep Al. Mambetkaziyev, Vice President for International Programs and Cooperation Daniel Ballast, and KAFU First Vice President Zhassulan Y. Baikenov.
The program brought 10 students from various fields studying the history, culture, and languages of the region to Kazakhstan. The participants spent their first days in Almaty, after which they continued their internship in Ust-Kamenogorsk. American students lived with KAFU students in the university dormitory and participated daily in educational, cultural, and excursion activities.
Students and faculty from the University of the Cumberland completed a short course in Russian and Kazakh, learned about the history of the region, and visited a number of cultural and historical sites in Ust-Kamenogorsk and the East Kazakhstan region.
One of the first items on the program was a visit to the Orthodox Church on Strelka and the Ust-Kamenogorsk Fortress History Museum. Participants learned about the city’s founding, the history of the region’s development, and the development of Orthodox culture in East Kazakhstan.
A visit to the Ulba Metallurgical Plant Museum, where they learned about the history of metallurgy in Ust-Kamenogorsk and its importance for the region’s industrial development, was of great interest to the guests. As part of the cultural program, the participants also visited the ethnopark and the Left Bank Complex, where they learned about the traditional Kazakh way of life, folk crafts, and Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage. Guests participated in festival events, crafts fair and national games.
Students and teachers also visited the Khalifa Altai Mosque and the Islamic Museum. The tour provided an insight into the region’s religious traditions, the mosque’s architecture, and the role of spiritual institutions in society.
A separate part of the program included a visit to the East Kazakhstan Regional Museum of History and Local Lore as part of the “Night at the Museum” event. Participants explored the museum’s exhibits, took part in interactive activities, and interacted with local residents and media representatives.
Guests also visited the O. Bokei East Kazakhstan Regional Library, where they learned about the works of regional writers, Abai, and other authors. A thematic meeting dedicated to life during the Soviet period was organized for the participants.
The program concluded with trips to the Ak Baur nature reserve, an ethno-village, and the Sibiny Lakes, where participants were able to gain a closer understanding of the nature of East Kazakhstan, its national cuisine, and traditional way of life.
The international exchange program has become an important platform for intercultural dialogue, strengthening international cooperation, and introducing international students to the history, culture, and traditions of Kazakhstan.